Welcome to the House of Xanadu
in Rockford, Illinois, USA
Hope you enjoy your visit and share my love of this marvelous breed: the Papillon. I have been a devoted Papillon owner since 1978 and have been showing and breeding Papillons as a hobby since 1991. I had my first litter in 1995 and then waited another 6 years to have my second . Since then I have put champions on 22 Papillons, 18 of whom were dogs that I had bred. My dogs included titles for Best in Show, multiple Toy Group Placements and Wins, 3 Awards of Merit on different dogs, a Sire of Merit, a Dam of Merit, 3 agility titled dogs, and one invitaion to the Eukanuba Cup in 2003 for Bred by Exhibitor competition.
I first began my interest in dogs in obedience training and learned the proper way of using the Kohler Method of Dog Training in an extraordinarily well run class in Chicago back in 1981. I trained my first Papillon in that class, and she graduated number 1 in the class after 8 weeks and was able to complete her off leash work with a qualifying score of 196. Three years later, in 1985 I attended another Kohler Class in Buffaloe Grove, IL conducted by the same training school with a Yorkie. He also finished number 1 in his class after 8 weeks and received a qualifying score of 198. Several years later while living in Janesville, WI, I trained two of my pet Samoyeds using the same methods but without attending a class. Training involved taking the Papillon and Yorkie along for refreshers on the "long down/stay" while the Sammy went through paces in area parking lots away from home.
While my experience in obedience training was invaluable, I never competed in obedience . I found too much similarity to my classroom teaching experience and wanted more diversion in my hobby. I eventually decided to try confirmation. Confirmation and the art of breeding quickly became my passion. I have enjoyed the "puzzle factor" of breeding a better dog as well as the art of showing a dog in the confirmation ring, where breeding stock is evaluated in a competive environment. It is the challenge of bringing your breeding program AND having them well-presented that makes confirmation my life passion and hobby.
My Papillon imported from England BIS CH Daneview Kriss Kringle (shown top left) won a Best in Show at his third weekend of dog shows and only 2 months after he came to live with me back in 1999. He finished the year in the top 10 in the breed after only a 4 month career in the ring. He iss a Sire of Merit with multiple Best in Show and Best in Specialty grandkids in the USA, Canada, and Brazil.
Next is photo of CH Xanadu In the Limelight and me taken in the summer of 2007. Limey is my first generation offspring resulting from my introduction to the lovely Nouvea bloodlines from England. Shown below Limey is a photo of his first offspring in the show ring , Xanadu Mighty Mouse. Mouse's dam is CH Ringlands Almandira Lunar Star, who I had imported from England in 2002 and is a daughter of Japan's number 1 Papillon for the same year., BIS Jpn CH Ringlands Gambling Philip.
Last , but not least, is a newborn pup who hopefully will continue with my breeding program. His sire and dam are half-brother sister out of my CH Maximilian Gloria Glitter. A boy puppy, yet unnamed who is the offspring of my CH Xanadu's American Idol and my CH Xanadu Bring It On. The dam is a littermate to Limey , shown above. The sire is a son of BIS CH Wingssong and the Crowd Roared. I have placed this photo of the newborn beside the photo of my first Papillon, who started it all for me-my dear Meghans, photo taken the day I brought her home in 1980.
I am grateful to the breeders who helped me get started and offered their tireless support over the years, yet had the confidence in me to set my own path. Special thanks to
- Nancy Haas, former KC prefix in USA
- Pat Groff of Maximilian in USA
- Anna McKnight of Daneview in the UK
In addition, I would like to thank
- Pat Munn of Ringlands in the UK
- Mike Foster of Nouveau in the UK
- Chris and Pat Jones of Wingssong in USA
- Marichin Rosenstein of Marichin in the USA.
I am a member of the Greater Chicagoland Papillon Club , former member of the Papillon Club of America and have been a member of the Papillon (Butterfly Dog) Club of the United Kingdom for several years.
